U.S. President Barack Obama says Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's statements about the attacks on two U.S. diplomatic outposts in the Middle East demonstrate his opponent's lack of judgment.

Romney issued a statement late Tuesday accusing the president of apologizing for the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, describing Mr. Obama's actions as "disgraceful."

He was referring to a statement issued by the embassy in Cairo earlier in the day condemning a crude video made in the U.S. that Muslims felt ridiculed the Prophet Muhammed. The statement was issued before demonstrators stormed the complex, and well before the world learned that U.S. Ambassador to Libya John Christopher Stevens and three other officials were killed in the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.

U.S. Republican presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney listens to questions on the attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya, in Jacksonville, Florida, September 12, 2012.

In a hastily organized news conference Wednesday afternoon, Romney said "it's never too early to condemn attacks on Americans and defend our values."

But in an interview with CBS News, Obama said his challenger's response revealed "a tendency to shoot first and aim later."

The Romney attacks touched off a political firestorm in official Washington, with Democrats -- and even members of Mr. Romney's own Republican party -- accusing him of politicizing a national tragedy.

U.S. Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, blasted the Republican candidate, saying Romney spoke "before the families [of the deceased] have even been notified." He called the Romney response "irresponsible" and "callous."

David Frum, a speech writer for ex-President George W. Bush, called the Romney campaign's response "a dismal business in every respect."

President Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that there was "no justification" for the "senseless violence," and that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Comments

by: Lucas Advincula from: Sacramento

September 16, 2012 8:17 PM

Republicans weren't that excited when the news came of Osama Bin Ladin's death. I think there1st feeling was envy that it happened on the President's watch. The republicans couldn't get passed their own feelings on this one due to their only concern was to get in the White House in 2012. No love from the right.. Again we heard Romney's comments to the death of our ambassador to Libya. 1st thought, blame the president. No love here either

by: Delta Force 1 from: VA

September 13, 2012 4:49 PM

The President doesn't have to beat Mittens...Mittens is beating himself! Have you ever seen a presidential candidate implode o badly in front of the American people? When you have Republicans of every stripe shaking their proverbial talking heads at the gross incompetence of Mittens from his taxes and offshore accounts, to his flip-flopping on Bain, to his overseas trips to alienate our closest allies, to this...Mittens has shown that he is not fit to be POTUS or president of anything other than his yacht club.

In Response

by: Lucas Advincula from: Sacramento

September 16, 2012 3:44 PM

How much more evidence do republicans need to figure out they should write this campaign off and shoot for 2016. Their behavior is unprecedented and will not be forgotten, they keep digging a bigger hole. Time to start making congressman accountable for supporting the current GOP agenda. I will generate a list of them and start putting their names on Front Street for supporting the extreme right.

by: Briny from: USA

September 13, 2012 1:45 PM

Dear me-so many ignorant fools in the world that have not yet realized 99.9% of murderous fanatics today are Muslim-could this be coincidence? I think not. OBTW-When did taxpayer-funded VOA become a shill for the incumbent? Oh, of course-2008.

by: gil brown from: san diego

September 13, 2012 12:33 PM

Defending and supporting Mitt's comments and poor judgement is a never ending job. The protest and violence was still unfolding, American's were still in danger and being killed and Mitt's statement was purely political, non-factual and self serving, and no benefit to anyone,

by: George Washingnton from: RollingOver-inGrave

September 13, 2012 10:00 AM

The only thing that lack judgment is; the attack by Muslims and the Presidents continued failure to protect the American people, whom he id responsible for. The lack of judgment here is not having adequate protection for those that were killed. Don’t be fooled into believing that there wasn’t sufficient Whitehouse intelligence prior to these attacks. The “Lack of Judgment” rest squarely on Mr. Obama’s weak shoulders. Wake up America!

In Response

by: Awake from: North

September 13, 2012 8:28 PM

Which party was in power when the 9/11 tragedy occurred?

In Response

by: lizette from: los angeles

September 13, 2012 5:04 PM

Hi dod, you are being naive and racist start learning the facts this president killed Osama Bill Laden not the Republicans or the bush administration. Obama has strong shoulders and lack of judgement is definitely goes to Romney. Remember what Romney did in England during the Olympic.....Great judgement .....

The claim that Obama apologizes for America could have as easily come from the extremist, reckless minds behind the Innocence of Muslims film as from the Republican candidate.

by: RangerDan from: Michigan

September 13, 2012 8:57 AM

Romney is falling into the trap of behaving the same way as the protesters in these countries. The protesters are assuming that the filmmakers somehow represent the beliefs of America in general. And Romney is assuming that the protesters represent the beliefs of these countries in general. Neither is true.

In Response

by: Mike from: Massachusetts

September 14, 2012 10:34 AM

My thoughts exactly, Dan. Obama, by rejecting an insulting video is demonstrating "American Values" of respect for the 99.999% of Muslims who did not participate in violent protest.

It is an American value to not disrespect others.

We have freedom of speech. You are free in this country to be an offensive jerk.

At the end of the day, you'd still be an offensive jerk.

Values are best demonstrated during times of great difficulty - not when it is simply easy to do so.

by: eden

September 13, 2012 8:08 AM

Obama is a Muslim sympathiser.There is no middle ground with these people .you are either with them or against them.

In Response

by: AllyCat from: Southern California

September 14, 2012 10:08 AM

I also agree with Jo, very wise words.

In Response

by: Yoshi from: Sapporo

September 13, 2012 8:44 PM

I agree with Jo's comment.

In Response

by: Jo from: La

September 13, 2012 11:13 AM

Are you insane? The President feels the attacks are as horrendous as we all feel. Muslim's are not the problem, fanatics of any religious beliefs are the problem! Rational people know that people whom think their God is the God are the problem. There are equal number of Christian fanatics whom are working towards the next world war. Romney wants the next world war, he is a war mongering fanatic. An eye for an eye only makes the world go blind.

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